Egg retrieval done! OHSS?

Hello everyone. So got 22 follicles drained today. They were quite astounded at the number (they say 5-7 is normal for them) and said my ovaries are very large now - about 7/8cm.

I'm a bit tender but that's it. I'm just worried with the number retrieved that the follicles with fill with fluid and I'll now develop OHSS and not be able to transfer on Saturday. My estradiol level shot up from about 400 last Wednesday to 2000 on Friday.

Anyone with high estradiol still able to do a fresh transfer?

Anyone get OHSS and when did the symptoms set in after egg retrieval? And were you able to do the transfer?

Sorry for the questions, 'tis my first IVF and just very nervous! Thanks!

Congrats on so many eggs! I have PCOS and had 30 mature eggs retrieved. My estrogen levels suggested I was fine for transfer (under 3,000). Unfortunately, my scan two days later showed my ovaries to be about the same size yours are (which is 3-4x normal size). I was told that even if you didn't develop OHSS after egg retrieval, you could develop it if you became pregnant. When my doctor saw the size of my ovaries she said no way, no how were we doing a fresh transfer.

I felt fine after retrieval, but as the week went on, I got more uncomfortable, somewhat painful. I was beyond bloated. If I had had a fresh transfer, all of those symptoms would have been multiplied.

When I went for my baseline scan after I got my period roughly two weeks later, my ovaries were still too large to proceed. We gave it three weeks before we could start an FET cycle.

I was so disappointed both times to have to wait longer. It seems infertility is hurry up and wait over and over again. I still thought I would have been fine if I got pregnant, that I could have handled it. Until my third FET.

We did a Follistim protocol because they wanted to make me ovulate so I produce my own progesterone. We did Follistim/IUI cycles in the past and I produced three follicles at most. This cycle, they bumped my meds too quickly. I had about 10 or so follicles (which weren't being retrieved and we were told no intercourse). I did get pregnant from the transfer and my ovaries went up to 8-9 cm each. Every time I rolled over in bed, I had shooting pain (like round ligament pain) in my ovary area. I was put on a no lifting, no exercise, no intercourse restriction. I wasn't allowed to pick up my almost 2-year-old daughter. I couldn't go grocery shopping on my own. They said my ovaries wouldn't calm down until 10-12 weeks when the placenta would start making its own hormones. Unfortunately, we lost the baby just after we saw a heartbeat. That's when my ovaries started to go back to normal. While I would have gone through that for the full 40 weeks if it meant a healthy baby, I wouldn't choose to get pregnant if the possibility of OHSS is there, especially with so many eggs retrieved.

We all want happy and healthy pregnancies. As horrible as waiting until next cycle for a frozen transfer, I would seriously consider it. After going through what we go through, we deserve as easy a pregnancy as possible. You'll have a more comfortable and likely more enjoyable first trimester if you don't have OHSS. You'll likely be put on an estrogen protocol which are pills and patches to prime your lining for an FET. The meds will keep your ovaries from developing follicles and you won't ovulate. There won't be a chance of OHSS then.

All this said, you need to do what is right for you and your embryos. Good luck with your decision! Fingers crossed, whether fresh or frozen transfer, that you get your BFP!

Think that's what I needed to hear to be honest. I'm all for positive thinking but I think if I set myself up for thinking I'll develop OHSS or I won't be able to have the transfer this week for whatever reason at least I can't get as disappointed!?

Stay extra hydrated, lots of plain water and Gatorade, and add in some salty snacks or high sodium soups, stay low carb for a little while (sounds counterintuitive but you're trying to prevent fluid imbalance, the nurse gave me these instructions). I had 20+ good sized follicles drained, 15 of them had eggs, and I feared OHSS because I got it after an IUI with only 5 follicles and getting pregnant. I didn't get it this time after followinh the nurse's suggestions.

Congrats on the successful retrieval! Part 1 is done. I had 25 retrieved and OHSS kicked in about 36 hours after. It's was terrible. One of the worst weeks of my life. Couldn't really eat and just had to drink sugary Gatorade or vitamin water. Got so sick of that that I switched to coconut water which I don't have a taste for. Got drained twice bc I got to the point where I couldn't lay straight (sleep at night). Felt so much better after the drains and then shot 9 days after retrieval felt like myself again. I hope you avoid this !!

I think that's best too. My nurse always tells me hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Yes, we are trying again! It's our last cycle for a while so I'm really hoping one or both of the embryos we put in are going to stick. We decided to do a "normal" protocol with estrogen and then five days of progesterone. I'm very hopeful for this cycle! I go in Friday to see if my lining is ready.

Will your doctor do another scan to check your ovaries before transfer?

Awesome that you had your retrieval done! I am in a similar situation first IVF too! Estradiol level was a bit high on Saturday (day 8) so they brought down the dose on the menopur from 300 to 200. I also have a lot of follicles and may do the trigger shot today (waiting for that call). I am bloated but not much and not much discomfort. In fact I felt more pressure yesterday than today. I asked my doc if that was normal and she said yes the ovaries do move and sometimes I will feel more pressure. How was it for you before your retrieval?

Thank you! I'm normally very low carb but had some salty/cheese rice cakes today with chicken, tried to keep my veg up but easier to eat fruit which I know is high carb. I think it may get worse though so trying to eat as much así can today!

Thanks for the advice. Ive been drinking plain water and lots of squash. Eating ok just now actually. The pain isn't too bad just now. Think it could get worse over next couple of days though! This is gonna sound gross but as well as ovary pain I have pain in my back passage...is this normal?!! It seems to be intense and feels like I need to pass wind!?

Get something with electrolytes. Your body needs to be replenished. I was told to not drink plain water .. which made me feel so gross for a week. Hmmm well I know the sacs of fluid can be in the front or back. Maybe that is causing you discomfort ? My second drain the sac was all the way in the Back which is why it hurt to lie down

Thank you for the advice! Your OHSS must have been pretty severe to be drained twice you poor thing. How long did you have to wait before you could do the next stage?

I Got some lucozade (the U.K. Equivalent) and lots of water. Been eating loads of plain chicken too for max protein! Still a bit bloated but a lot less painful today so really hoping it's calming down and estradiol will decrease over next few days.

So they did decide to do another scan and bw, had them today. Scan showed the ovaries are still 7/8cm each and are kinda squashed together. It also unfortunately showed there is fluid around the right ovary :-( praying it goes away in next 36 hours otherwise no transfer as would be too risky to me. Have cried so much this afternoon! Also my blood is bit too sticky they think despite the blood thinners I started injecting yesterday. Every tiny twinge of pain in an arm or leg I'm terrified is a clot!!

Fingers crossed your lining will be ready tomorrow! Good luck at your scan! Let us know how it goes! Here's hoping all good news :-)